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Wide Open Kikuka Sho Wraps Up Japanese Triple Crown

Contrail completed the 2020 Triple Crown, then was second in Japan Cup (G1).

Courtesy of Japan Racing Association

What a difference a year makes.

As 2020 wound to a close, Contrail completed a sweep of the Japanese Triple Crown with a victory in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) and moved on finish second in a classic renewal of the Japan Cup (G1).

Fast forward to the Oct. 24 renewal of the Kikuka Sho and not only is there no Triple Crown on the line but neither winner of the first two legs is even in the lineup.

Instead, the 3,000-meter (about 1 7/8 miles) test of stamina offers an opportunity for some promising 3-year-olds who came up short in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) to make a mark heading into the year-end events where they will face older rivals.

Titleholder, second in the Satsuki Sho, needs a turnaround of form. The Duramente colt finished sixth in the Tokyo Yushun, then next-last in his Kikuka Sho trial, the Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen (G2) Sept. 20.

"He didn't seem to run his race last time but since then he's been relaxed and things have been smooth with him," said Titleholder's trainer, Toru Kurita. "He should improve in his training if we keep him that way, and right now there's a calmness about him, which I'm pleased with."

Stella Veloce - Saudi Arabia Royal Cup - 2020
Photo: Masakazu Takahashi
Stella Veloce wins the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo Racecourse

Stella Veloce was third in the Tokyo Yushun behind long shot winner Shahryar and Kikuka Sho victor Efforia. Neither of those returns for this race, leaving a clear path for the Bago colt and hope for his trainer, Naosuke Sugai, after an interim victory in the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2) Sept. 26.

"The 3,000 meters at Hanshin, having to take the rise in the straight twice, will be something he'll have to manage," Sugai said. "But if he can relax throughout the race and give it his best, I'm hoping he can run a strong race here."

Jockey Hayato Yoshida said during pre-race ceremonies an inside draw "would be good to save ground in the run," then saw Stella Veloce draw the No. 14 gate in a field of 18.

Asamano Itazura looks to confirm his 42-1 upset win in the Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen. The Victoire Pisa colt produced a late burst of speed to land his first graded win by a neck in that effort and trainer Takahisa Tezuka said he "feels like a challenger here, and with the two other Classic-winning horses not in the lineup, he must have a better chance."

Red Genesis, a Deep Impact colt trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, rebounded from an 11th-place finish in the Tokyo Yushun to finish second last time to Stella Veloce in the Kobe Shimbun Hai at Chukyo.

Those who follow Japan's leading rider, Christophe Lemaire, will cast their eyes to the outside gate, where he will start Orthoclase on the long journey. The Epiphaneia colt finished third in the Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen in just the fourth start of his career.

The Kikuka Sho is being contested this year at Hanshin Racecourse while its normal venue, Kyoto, undergoes extensive renovation. The race is run right-handed and the layout features a rise through the stretch to the finish line—an additional challenge for young horses going 3,000 meters for the first time.

Geldings are barred from the race and only one filly, Divine Love, a daughter of Epiphaneia, made the field.

The winner can have a fine time moving forward against older horses. Contrail, after becoming just the third undefeated Triple Crown winner, finished second to superstar mare Almond Eye in a spectacular renewal of the Japan Cup with filly Triple Crown winner Daring Tact third.